Man, 70, Assaulted In Mugging Attempt

November 10, 1994

A 70-year-old man escaped injury when he was assaulted near his South Highland Street home Tuesday night, police said.

About 9 p.m. Tuesday, the man was returning to his house, said Det. Capt. James Gustafson, a police department spokesman. He was approached by another man who asked him if someone named Paul lived nearby, Gustafson said.

The victim said no and continued toward his house, Gustafson said. The victim was then grabbed from behind and knocked to the ground, and the mugger reached into his coat pocket while asking the victim where his money was, Gustafson said.

The victim screamed for help, Gustafson said, and a resident of the building next door opened a window and asked what was happening. The attacker then fled, Gustafson said.

The victim did not require hospitalization, Gustafson said. The attacker was described as being in his mid-20s and about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He had a small mustache and was wearing dark clothes, Gustafson said.

Gustafson declined to comment on whether there was any connection between the incident and an Oct. 29 attack on a Prospect Avenue resident. In that attack, an elderly man was hit twice in the head with a stick and knocked unconscious after opening his door, police said.